Governor Leads on Equity – $100 million Proposal. $33 million open to new ideas?

Governor Dayton is leading the charge to eliminate economic disparities in Minnesota with a $100 million package of investments ranging from a $6 million entrepreneur fund to increasing funding for American Indian health care initiatives.

The most intriguing component of the package is $33 million that is unassigned – this opens the door for the community to bring proposals to the legislature. An overdue recognition that a lot of innovative ideas can emerge from the grassroots!

Here are some key elements of Governor Dayton’s Equity Package.

$2.6 million to ensure that by the end of his term 20 percent of the workforce are from the ALANA communities. Currently ALANA communities make up 19 percent of the state’s population

$ 6 million entrepreneur fund

$ 2 million for smaller organizations working to build their capacity to create jobs and business opportunity

$20 million for programs to assist students graduate from college or university

$4.1 million for the Pathways to Prosperity program to create pathways to good jobs

$8 million for youth jobs, internships etc

$12 million to recruit and increase diversity in the teacher pool

$5 million for mortgage assistance

$1.2 million for a homeownership program and a pilot to program aimed at landlords

$4.4 million for SNAP program improvement

$2.8 million for positive behavior support in the classroom

$33 million unassigned – this is where the public can come in with their ideas….